Despite the mistakes he knows he has made since becoming the guardian of Paradise, Annubis cannot help but to feel a sense of pride swell deep within his core as his gaze travels over Izumi’s gentle face. No longer does she tense at his approach or gaze at him with wary apprehension. She does not lean away from the nearness of his approach and instead raises her gaze to meet his with warmth in her smile. And by the gods, how he felt himself weaken at that very smile.

Discussing her family seemed an easy start to their conversations. It was what had broken the first of the barriers between them when she first came to Paradise. It was an awkward attempt, but Annubis was not exactly a professional mare wooer. His experience with the fairer sex was quite limited despite his age.

But he still felt like he must try.

The sterling stallion listens intently as the golden mare tells him of her mother. Twin harks flicker absently at her mention of the Peaks as her mother’s birthplace.

Questions abound and encircle his thoughts as he continues to listen intently to her words as she continues to describe her younger sister and hopes of them finding a place like this. A gentle smile tugs at the corners of his ashen lips. A nervous chuckle rumbles in the depths of his lungs at her description of him. Kind. ”I think there are quite a few out there who would argue with your description of me.” he replies, his golden eyes alight with growing affection. ”Most refer to me as rude or brazen… but kind does have a nice and unexpected ring to it.” he finishes, tilting his head to let the dark tendrils of his obsidian forelock settle against his cheek. Yes, when she said it…. Kind sounded…. good.

And he wanted to be kind and gentle for her.

Again the awkward inexperience clings to him like a second skin. Tentatively, he stretches his throat to allow ashen labrums to brush a gentle touch against her silken shoulder. ”If you like, we could go and check on them?” The question hangs heavily between them. The thought of Izumi traveling the islands alone is too much for his anxiety to handle. Although he is quite certain that if push comes to shove, the delicate flower could handle herself in a dangerous circumstance. She did grow up in the Lagoon after all. Still, the need to protect her as he protected Hymn and Promise is deep and ingrained into the very fiber of who he was.

The sterling stallion clears his throat again, his multifaceted eyes searching her soft gaze. ”I mean… I don’t know them or what they look like and I’m quite sure they wouldn’t take kindly to a strangers probing questions…. But I can at least offer you some protection if you do want to go look for them.” He continues his lopsided smile growing once more. ”I mean…. That is… if you want to of course.”